"We cannot hold a torch to light another’s path without brightening our own." ~Ben Sweetland

The other day, I was mindlessly scrolling through Instagram, stalking my high school friends' new best friends to make sure I was not being replaced, when I came upon a selfie.  Usually, I refuse to "like" or even look too closely at selfies (I usually associate them with narcissism, even though that's usually not the case).  However, the caption on this specific picture caught my eye.

"Be the reason someone smiles today."

Yes, the caption had absolutely nothing to do with the selfie the girl posted and yes, maybe she was fishing for "likes," but this statement truly speaks volumes.

Imagine if everyone made it their goal to make someone else smile every day.  I tried it this week as a social experiment (also because I desperately needed a pick-me-up to get me through this last week before Thanksgiving), and it was an incredible way to live!  It's not like I'm a terrible person normally, but I don't usually wake up every single day thinking, "Okay, today, my goal is to make someone else's day."

This week, I did, and I don't ever want to stop.

I realized that, in order to make others happy, I had to be happy first.  I had been feeling down, but as soon as I made a commitment to make other people happy, I felt instantly better.

Do you know anyone who is always pessimistic or always has something to complain about?  We all do.  And we all feel exhausted and negative when we spend time around them.  Emotions are contagious.  So, when we're around a person who has a good, positive attitude, their energy spreads and we suddenly feel rejuvenated.

Ben Sweetland said, "We cannot hold a torch to light another's path without brightening our own."

Courtesy of Rachel Melton

If we want to make positive contributions to the world or if we want to simply make another person smile, we have to brighten our own torch.  We need to think and live positively in order to have a hope of changing anything.

This is easier said than done.  It is difficult to be positive and wake up each day in a good mood because life often gets in the way.  Everyone always has rough days, but these days are so much easier to get through with a positive mindset.

Back home, my family has a sign hanging right at the bottom of the stairs that says, "Today is going to be a great day."  It is impossible to miss when you walk out of the door in the morning.  I'll admit it--the sign used to annoy me on sometimes.  Some days, I convinced myself that I wanted to be angry or sad or upset, and I stubbornly thought that no sign could change how I felt.  Occasionally, I wanted to let myself have a bad day.

Now, however, I realize the importance of that sign and appreciate it so much more.  It is so true that if you wake up and think, "Today is going to be a great day," then the chances of you having a great day are infinitely better.  Minds are incredible things and simple thoughts have a tremendous impact on the way that we live each day.

Last week, I placed a new addition in my dorm: a sign hanging on my door, bearing the words that I used to (occasionally) despise,  "Today is going to be a great day."

I'm hoping that this sign will help me to brighten my torch so that I can continue on my mission to make at least one person smile every day--and I highly recommend that you do the same.

**Disclaimer:  This sign is 100% foolproof.  Side effects may include laughter, contagious smiling, and a lift in mood.**

"Aerodynamically, the bumblebee shouldn't be able to fly, but the bumblebee doesn't know it so it goes on flying anyway." ~Mary Kay Ash

According to my extensive research, bumblebee flight does not in fact violate the laws of physics, but this was news to me (I have about as much scientific knowledge as a third grader).  Nevertheless, bumblebees have tiny wings and comparatively huge bodies and manage to fly long distances with apparent ease, and I find that to be truly amazing.

Let's disregard science for a moment and pretend that aerodynamically, bumblebees are technically incapable of flight.  This allows us to take Mary Kay Ash's quote for what it is--a fantastic metaphor that can apply to many situations in our lives.

We'll call this the Bumblebee Mentality: "Aerodynamically, the bumblebee shouldn't be able to fly, but the bumblebee doesn't know it so it goes on flying anyway."

The bumblebee is not conscious of its less-than-ideal anatomy for flying.  It just goes on and does what it needs to do to survive and thrive, without worrying that it is not capable of accomplishing its goals (of pollinating flowers and possibly terrorizing small children).

Life is a little bit more complex for us because we know exactly what we shouldn't be able to do.  Humans technically shouldn't be able to live on Mars or cure cancer or end violence and terrorism in the world.  However, there are so many amazing people with the Bumblebee Mentality who are working towards achieving these incredible feats.  They are capable of eliminating thoughts like "this is inconceivable," and "this can never be done."  They pretend to be unaware that some things are nearly impossible and go on to defy the odds, (hopefully) eventually achieving these amazing feats anyway.  

Photo courtesy of Tom Blackwell

Many of us are not working towards curing cancer, per se.  Yet, there are small victories in our own lives that could be won if we embrace the Bumblebee Mentality.  So many times, we shy away from daunting tasks because we don't think we are capable.  The only way to find out whether or not we're capable of something is to try.  After all, the bumblebee doesn't know that it shouldn't technically be able to fly, but it goes on flying each day.

Every NewYear's Eve, I, along with everyone else in the world, make New Year's Resolutions that I never keep.  We have the best intentions of eating healthy, doing one good deed every day, working ahead on homework, and keeping our rooms spotless (these are usually my goals), but something always gets in the way.  I usually pride myself on my self-discipline but for some reason, written goals always end badly for me.  I think this is because writing them down reminds me that I struggle with them and reminds me of my lack of confidence in these areas of my life.

If we just do and don't dream, we will be well on our way to executing the Bumblebee Mentality and will be able to accomplish so much that we never thought possible.  

Theoretically, the college student shouldn't be able to eat, sleep, do homework, socialize, and join service and recreational organizations, but the college student doesn't know so it goes on trying anyway. (A semi-original quote by Yours Truly).

"A smooth sea never made a skillful sailor." ~English Proverb

At this point in the semester, you may be dealing with "Three Projects Due in One Week Virus," "Sleep is for the Weak Plague," or "Fail-phobia."  Expectations are rising, energy levels are falling, and you feel like you're being tossed around as if Penn State Football scored their 31st point and a sea of arms is throwing you up in the air (except, there's no cheering, smiles, or excitement--only a slight sense of queasiness).

This theoretical rough sea, according to an English Proverb, is good for you.  That is often difficult to believe.

Sometimes, when stress overcomes us or threatens to make us weak, we feel that we should just give up.  We may think that to push through a rough time and keep enduring whatever it is that is causing the storm in our lives is pointless and will only cause more turmoil.

However, when our ship starts to rock on rough seas, we must adjust our sails and keep going because that is the only way to escape the storm.  We need to keep looking forward and know that these hard times are just one patch of rough seas in our lives that are ultimately making us more skillful sailors.  Dealing with rough seas makes us well-practiced life experts (that is why calling your grandparents or speaking to wise people every once in a while is helpful--they are well-versed in the troubles you are experiencing and know the best ways to overcome them).

Courtesy of Patrick McDonald

The world today is a frightening
place.  With so much unrest and violence in the most ordinary, unsuspecting places, it is difficult to disregard the turmoil going on in society and live without fear.  But, sailors cannot go into a storm worrying about every possible terrible outcome.  They must put aside their fear and execute the task at hand by navigating through the rough waters.  The circumstances of society today include a great deal of violence, selfishness, and lack of regard for the value of human life.  Unless we are consciously working to enact change, the only thing we can do is to fight negative forces head-on and stand our ground by keeping our personal values close to us.

Imagine what we could accomplish if everyone were able to live without fear in every aspect of our lives.  Without any anxiety or worry about possible impending negative events (no matter how small), we could be able to fully concentrate on all the things that are important to us and lead the most meaningful, impactful lives possible.  We are all capable of this, but oftentimes, worry, anxiety, and the negative circumstances of life hold us back from unleashing our full potential.

Life can certainly be rough.  But without the bumps and waves that accompany each day, we would never learn anything and would never become skilled life captains.  My favorite coach always used to say, "Make a mistake once and it becomes a lesson.  Make a mistake twice and it becomes a choice."  As long as we do not allow our mistakes to become choices, we will be able to continue through whatever life hands to us and come out stronger, becoming truly skillful sailors.

"Life is amazing. And then it's awful....And it's breathtakingly beautiful." ~LR Knost

Last week, I was in a bit of a rut.  It was one of those weeks I felt like nothing I did was good enough and everything that could have possibly went wrong, went wrong.  We all have these weeks (or days, or months, or even years) and when we are living through them, it feels like they'll just stretch on forever.

My mom sent me this quotation at just the right time which really helped me to put everything in perspective (Moms are great, aren't they?):

"Life is amazing.  And then it's awful.  And then it's amazing again.  And in between the amazing and the awful, it's ordinary and mundane and routine.  Breathe in the amazing, hold on through the awful, and relax and exhale during the ordinary.  That's just living heartbreaking, soul-healing, amazing, awful, ordinary life.  And it's breathtakingly beautiful."  ~LR Knost

Did you ever think about the fact that our life is basically one really long day with naps of various lengths mixed in?  (Last week was also one of those weeks during which I had a lot of weird, deep thoughts like "Why are we here?", "What is my purpose?", "Would the world be a different place if we were allowed to mix flavors at the creamery?")  All the small events that we live through each day add up to create this large-scale, big picture that, in the end, we define as our life.  It's absolutely insane.

"Life is amazing."  We are so fortunate to be getting a great education at a wonderful school, surrounded by supportive peers and teachers.  We all have people that we love and who love and care for us.  We have so much potential to be whatever we choose to be in the future.  And let' s not forget, we get to experience this glorious fall weather in the most beautiful setting and we have West cookies to cure any of our maladies.

"And then it's awful."  Sometimes, we question the big decisions we make or we feel like we have no direction.  We may lose a loved one.  We could fail or be told that we'll never be successful.  We may feel powerless in our own lives, which is a really scary feeling.

"And in between the amazing and the awful, it's ordinary and mundane and routine."  We wake up, brush our teeth, go to class, do work, study, fall asleep, and repeat the entire cycle again.  Sometimes, we just go through the motions and feel as though we don't have very much to look forward to.

In these situations, it's important to...

"Breathe in the amazing."  Regardless of how the rest of your life is going, when something wonderful happens, soak it in and appreciate the good feelings that you have in that moment.

"Hold on through the awful."  Know that there is always a silver lining, that there is always help when you most need it, and that no matter how bad a time may seem, with positive thinking, it will pass.

"And relax and exhale during the ordinary."  Just enjoy the ride and appreciate the small things in your day that make it special.

And the truth is, "that's just living heartbreaking, soul-healing, amazing, awful, ordinary life."  We all need to recognize that everybody experiences their own hills and valleys.  The only thing we can do is to be aware of our feelings and the feelings of others and help each other to navigate the rough seas in each of our individual lives.

This week, try to reach out to someone who may be having a rough time and encourage them to see all the wonderful things in life that make it so worth living.  As I write this, the breeze is gently blowing, vibrant red leaves are fluttering from the crystal blue sky, and I can't help but to think that, right now, life is good.

"And it's breathtakingly beautiful."

Photo courtesy of PSUpix on flickr.com

"Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent." ~Victor Hugo

I have mood swings.  But only when I play music.

One of the things I have learned through studying music is that I have to express things in my playing that I would not normally feel every day.  In one piece that spans less than ten minutes, I may need to express sorrow, joy, pain, passion, excitement, agitation, restlessness, and humor.  I need to convey these emotions to the audience and to accomplish that task, I must transfer these emotions through my fingers and through the air that I put through my instrument by genuinely feeling those things.

The music major track is just as rigorous as any other area of study. We spend up to four hours a day in a practice room, another hour in lessons or chamber groups, and another in ensemble rehearsals.  Then, we take two to three theory classes in addition to the required general education classes.  Most days, I can't even figure when (or if) I can eat.  Add on the immense stress of competition within the music school and the pressure to play well 24/7, mixed with less than healthy amounts of sleep and there, in a nutshell, is the life of a music major.

Yet, there is a reason why all of us decide to put ourselves through this exhausting lifestyle that, yes, has an extremely low employment rate.

That reason is passion.

Passion for the thrill of performance, all mediums of music, and the art of expression.

I am grateful that each day, I am able to be emotionally moved in so many different ways, and experience the chills that occur when every single member of my ensemble is completely in sync, expressing and feeling the exact same emotions that I am.

It's powerful, and it cannot be described.

Thus, Victor Hugo said, "Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent."

Every single piece of music has a deeper meaning than the black and white notes on the page, and each composer has a story or a journey of emotions they need to express in their work.

Do you ever have a powerful experience (whether positive or negative) that you try to describe to a friend, but you can't even find the words to express how you felt?  Do you ever engage in a debate about a topic that you know is extremely important, but you simply cannot determine how to execute your argument?  Do you ever want to tell a family member, friend, or loved one how much they mean to you but there are truly no words to communicate your feelings?

We all do.  There are not enough words in the English language to express the most powerful emotions we have and the intense situations we experience.  And that is why we have music.

Many people dismiss music as pure entertainment.  The reason that music is associated with entertainment is because it tells stories and expresses emotions that we as humans cannot express with words.  It is intriguing and thought-provoking, and beautiful and wonderful in every way.

That is why I decided to dedicate my life to this art form.  I am able to participate in the conversation of words that cannot be expressed.  Weird, right?  But I don't mind at all.

Sidenote:  If you have not yet seen this video, this is a perfect demonstration of the way that music has the power to move people from all over the world to collectively express the inexpressible.

"It is our choices...that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." ~Albus Dumbledore

I am an avid Harry Potter fan.  My mom started reading them to me aloud when I was in second grade and I became immediately and irrevocably obsessed.  Since the beginning of my relationship with the Harry Potter series, I have read each book more than ten times (that is not an exaggeration) and the pages are so dog-eared and ripped that I need to read some of the books sitting at a desk so they don't fall apart.  I have taken every Sorting Hat quiz known to man (I am proud to say that I am a Gryffindor) and I know the secret Butterbeer recipe at Starbucks by heart.

All seven Harry Potter books are intricately thought-out, incredibly multi-dimensional, and amazingly realistic, which makes them the perfect read for anyone wishing to escape into a fantasy world for a few hours.  I was actually slightly disappointed that I didn't receive a letter when I was eleven inviting me to hop on Platform 9 3/4 in Kings Cross Station to begin my education at Hogwarts.

I will be forever grateful, however, to J.K. Rowling for giving the world the gift of Harry Potter.  Not only does the series provide a welcome distraction from the real world, the books also introduce dynamic characters that offer insightful advice and words of wisdom that are applicable to any Muggle's (non-wizarding folk's) life.  The words of Professor Albus Dumbledore (Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Order of Merlin, First Class, Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards, Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, and Grand Sorcerer--I'm sorry, I couldn't resist) always prove to be extremely wise.  He said in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, "It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities."

Apart from our surface-level talents, everyone also has the ability to be kind, to be hard-working, and to be optimistic.  I believe that people are inherently good.  We all have the abilities inside us to be exemplary people, but we have to consciously choose to use our abilities (like kindness, perseverance, and optimism) to prove our worth.

When Harry donned the Sorting Hat on his first day at Hogwarts to be sorted into a House, he persistently implored, "Not Slytherin, not Slytherin."  He did not want to be associated with the House that produced the darkest Wizards in all of history.  He later finds out that the Hat thought he had all the qualifications and abilities to be in Slytherin, yet it placed him in Gryffindor because his choice defined his true character.

Although I acknowledge that the Harry Potter novels are complete fiction, I am not ashamed to say that many of the most important lessons I have ever learned have come from the dog-eared pages of the most beloved seven books on my shelf.  Because of Albus Dumbledore, I learned that every minuscule choice in life displays a different aspect of our identity.  Whether we notice it or not, our choices automatically expose our true characters to the world.

So,

Choose wisely.

 

"Worrying is stupid. It's like walking around with an umbrella waiting for it to rain." ~Wiz Khalifa

First of all, I would just like to establish that Wiz Khalifa is not someone I would peg as an exemplary role model.  However, he crafted one of my favorite quotes, "Worrying is stupid.  It's like walking around with an umbrella waiting for it to rain," which is thoughtful and full of erudition.  After all, Wiz is short for "Wizdom" (I gather that this is actually a true fact, but maybe I shouldn't believe everything I read on the Internet.)

I'll admit that even on the sunniest of days, I carry an umbrella in my backpack "just in case."  Partly, this has become a habit for me and partly, I feel more secure if I am prepared for every possible situation (and this week, the umbrella has come in handy quite a few times).

"A Sea of Umbrellas," image courtesy of Penn State

But what good does the umbrella do for me on a sunny day?  It adds to the already heavy load on my back, which may pose a problem fifty years from now.  It scrunches notebooks, creates a strange, suspicious looking lump, and just serves as a nuisance.  The same could be said about the act of worrying.  It scrunches positivity, creates a suspicious lump of negative thoughts in the back of my mind, and truly serves as a nuisance.

Worrying is stupid.  That's an undeniable fact.  So often, we think of all the worst-case scenarios when we are trying something new, challenging ourselves, or going about our normal daily routines.

We have all been going through a few taxing weeks of exams, which have certainly added a degree of worry and stress to our lives.  While studying this past week, I noticed that whenever I became even slightly discouraged, I thought, "What if I'm studying the wrong material?", "What if I forget this the minute I get to the test?", "What if I fail?", "What if...?"

Worrying is stupid.

The fact is, we cannot spend time dwelling on the "What If's."  All we are capable of doing is working hard in the moment and letting our work speak for itself when the time comes.  Hopefully, everything will fall into place.  And if it doesn't, we have the knowledge that we did all we could.  We pick ourselves back up again and continue to work hard to meet and surpass our next obstacle in life.

Dalai Lama XIV said, "There are only two days of the year when nothing can be done.  One is called Yesterday and the other is called Tomorrow, so Today is the right day to love, believe, do, and mostly live."

You cannot worry about yesterday's troubles because they cannot be undone.  You cannot worry about tomorrow's potential shortcomings because they cannot be predicted.  The best thing you can do for yourself is to live with your gaze grounded in the present moment, focusing on the task at hand, content with the current happenings in your life.

It's a bit strange to me that only the articulate Wiz Khalifa could teach me this all-important lesson, but I'm grateful that I learned it.  And I think from now on, I'll leave my umbrella behind (unless, of course, a hurricane or monsoon is in the forecast...*cough* Saturday *cough*).

"Today I Forgot My Umbrella" by Leonid Afremov

"Wherever you go, go with all your heart." ~Confucius

Well, I'm about to go to the library, does that mean I should skip and whistle merrily on my way to the place where I will inevitably spend hours poring over books, writing essays, and studying for exams?

Not exactly.

Matthew Cusick Map Art--Course of Empire Mixmaster, courtesy of Digital Bus Stop

Although this quote sounds rather cheesy, Confucius (at least to my knowledge) was not a cheesy man.  His philosophy outlined the importance of moral values, justice, compassion, and sincerity, which are all admirable traits.

I'll admit it, this quote sounds like it would appear in large, looping text on the front of a middle school girl's diary, surrounded by sweeping mountains, blooming flowers, and a beaming sun--a gag-worthy presentation, to say the least.  Yet, when standing alone in simple black text, Confucius's words are some of the most inspiring I have ever read.

He implies that, in order to live a full and satisfying life, one must demonstrate enthusiasm at every opportunity.  By this logic, even my trip to the library merits some version of gusto on my part.  Gusto, in the sense that because I am going, I should direct all my effort and attention to the task at hand by concentrating, being present in the moment, and soaking in and digesting every word that I read.  After all, I decided to go to the library, so why not "go with all my heart" and make the most of it by learning, comprehending, and doing good work?

Since that was a fairly boring example, I'll now relate this to an adventure like cliff diving.  First off, if you partake in this exhilarating, terrifying experience, I respect your bravery.  Never in five million years would you see me at the top of a cliff preparing to jump, unless there were a giant pit of fluffy pillows at the bottom (which there wouldn't be).  Anyway, in a thrilling situation such as cliff diving, Confucius encourages pumping even more zest and wholeheartedness into the act by being aware of the experience and how it affects you.

Photo courtesy of Magnolia Box

For example, at the top of the cliff, you may feel wonder and awe by looking down at the (hopefully) spectacular view and appreciate the wind whipping around you.  Then, as you're about to jump, nerves may kick in, but you notice that they only feed into your adrenaline rush.  As you jump, a feeling of complete freedom (and maybe terror) may overcome you, which will only last a few seconds.  Now it's over and you feel a rush and an overall sense of relief and satisfaction for completing the feat.

The average person likely feels all these things but does not think to notice, process, and appreciate them all.  Confucius encourages us to notice everything we sense and encounter in life in order to heighten our experience here on Earth.  By living with attentiveness, going places with all our hearts becomes much easier.

When faced with an activity that is pleasurable to us, going with all our hearts is already fairly easy.  The best times to keep these words of Confucius in mind, however, are those times when we need to complete a task or go somewhere that makes us anxious, annoyed, or angry.  Every day is an opportunity to infuse your world with energy and avidity.

So, whether you are going to the library or going cliff diving today, make sure that you go with all your heart and bring plenty of zest and enthusiasm to spare.

"I'm discovering that everybody is a closet quotesmith. Just give them a chance." ~Robert Brault

How does one become quotable?

Customarily, a quotable person has some sort of fame or success.  They have written books, made speeches, or starred in movies.  They probably have a sports car, a yacht, and someone who follows them around all day with pen and paper ready to write down all the witty things they say.

Oftentimes, the sayings of the affluent and illustrious seem quite uninspiring.  For instance, the quote of the day presented to me on my phone yesterday was (are you ready for this?):  "I don't know if I have a favorite color." ~Kate Middleton.

This is not a joke.

I cannot tell you how many times I have uttered those exact words (I have finally decided on sunflower yellow as my color of choice but it took many difficult years of self-reflection) and yet, Kate Middleton gets all the glory.

I suppose this says a lot about our society and how we, as a generalization, tend to give a lot of weight to the words of famous people.

Yet finally, Robert Brault, a modern-day freelance writer, recognized that even the common man--the waitress, the business owner, and the college student--is quotable.  He eloquently states, "I'm discovering that everybody is a closet quotesmith.  Just give them a chance."

If I had a dime for every time I heard a member of "the common man" say something witty, charismatic, insightful, or inspiring, I would have enough money to treat everyone at Penn State to a cone at the Creamery.  Okay, I probably wouldn't have that much money, but you get the picture.  The point is that everyone is quotable--you just need to listen.

You can find inspiration anywhere if you practice the art of listening.  Listen intently to your friends, your families, your teachers, and even strangers when they speak.  Listen to yourself.  Take in every word and taste it like it's the best, most refreshing scoop of Paterno Peach you've ever had.  Digest it slowly and search with passion for specks of inspiration, hidden quotes from each unsuspected quotesmith.

The Humans of New York account on all mediums of social media quotes the common man daily and has collected millions of followers.  This past week, the account posted this:

"Choosing what I want to do with my life is like trying to watch a YouTube video. When I'm halfway through the video, I glance over at the sidebar and see they're recommending something else that seems more interesting."

A photo posted by Humans of New York (@humansofny) on Sep 10, 2015 at 6:19pm PDT

This quote by a random, regular New Yorker definitely struck a chord with me and was the most relatable quote that I have read in quite some time.  I find this quote to be especially pertinent because, as college students,  we constantly struggle with the issue of deciding the direction of our future.  Since quotes are meant to inspire, to motivate, to generate emotions, and to spark discussion, there are no better authors of quotes than ordinary people with whom we feel a connection and with whom we can easily relate.  Sometimes, we may read a quote by a hugely famous pop star, an extraordinarily intelligent mathematician, or a tremendously successful businessman and find no inspiration.  We may feel puzzled because we as a society place great value in the words of celebrities and generally think that these people have a great amount of wisdom to offer.  Yet, oftentimes, the most inspiration comes from people just like us who have experienced the same pain, joy, and sorrow that we have experienced throughout our entire lives.

Everybody is a closet quotesmith.  Thank you, Robert Brault!

"Change your thoughts and you can change your world." ~Norman Vincent Peale

I check my “Quote of the Day” App religiously every morning and have not missed a day since I first downloaded it from the iTunes store.  If I ever miss a day, I am convinced that I will surely miss THE quote that will inspire me to single handedly cure cancer, feed the starving, shelter the homeless, and end all wars.  

That was sarcasm, if you missed it, because I in no way believe that quotes have magic powers to drive humankind into action and to de-flaw the entire species.  If this were true, then why not read Ghandi quotes to the cruel, Mother Theresa quotes to the greedy, and Martin Luther King, Jr. quotes to the apathetic?  All of the world’s problems would be instantaneously eradicated!  Of course, this tactic would never be successful.

Regardless, I believe that quotes are powerful, and that every quote gets a distinctive reaction from each person who reads it.  A quote that truly resonates with one person may not mean anything to someone else.  

I just find quotes to be thoroughly interesting.  Introducing a really good quote into your life is like feeding an insomnia cookie to your over-worked mind.  The results are instantaneous, overwhelmingly energizing and ultimately remarkable.

A couple weeks back, my quote app presented me with the following quotation by an anonymous author: “Always believe that something wonderful is about to happen.”  

I have to admit, this quote breathed new life into me.  I went about my life for the next few days with a new sense of positivity, zest, and energy, truly believing that something wonderful was about to happen.  As it turns out, nothing really did.  However, in those few sunshine and smiles, glass half-full days, I realized how a person’s quality of life can greatly improve by a simple change in mindset.  I believe that is what quotes can do for us.  That single quote by an anonymous author, whether you believe it or not, changed my entire outlook on life.

Norman Vincent Peale, a minister, author, public speaker, and expert in positive thinking once said, “Change your thoughts and you change your world.”  Notice, he does not say the world, just your world.  While the aforementioned quote about believing in the future occurrence of wonderful things was wildly successful in changing my thoughts and my world, you may not have the same reaction.  As individuals with different backgrounds and experiences, we all find the thoughts of some speakers to be more intriguing than the thoughts of others.  That is why certain words and the manner in which they are expressed have the capacity to impact our lives in immeasurable ways.

My goal with this blog is to attempt to dig up truly inspiring, non-cliche quotes.  By my last post, I hope that at least one quote resonates with you, changes your thoughts, and allows you to change your world for the better.

After all, you are the one who has to live in it.

Just by changing your thoughts, your world has the potential to turn into a vibrant, pleasant place.